West Gippsland Chorale - Musical Direction

Lisa is a graduate of the University of Queensland, having studied piano with Pamela Page. She also completed education studies at Monash University and was based for a number of years at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar in Melbourne, participating in many areas of classroom music education including VCE, performing, accompanying, musical productions, choral education and piano tuition. In choral music, Lisa has previously enjoyed being a member of The Melbourne Chorale, participated in various conducting and vocal workshops and has studied voice with Kathryn Sadler in Melbourne. Lisa currently works in Warragul teaching piano.

Jan has loved music since her childhood, and at Yallourn High School she was further inspired by the choral work of Graeme Bartle. At age 15 she first sang Handel’s Messiah in Yallourn and gained her A.Mus.A in piano in the same year. Thus began a lifelong interest in choral music, piano accompaniment and teaching, also as church organist at Hamilton, Horsham and Warragul.

During her teacher training Jan sang with Melbourne University Choral Society, then Yallourn Madrigal Singers under the late Val Pyers, Geelong GAMA Singers and Hamilton Lydian Singers, gaining valuable insights in leading a choir from a variety of skilled conductors. In the early ’70s she founded a small madrigal group in Hopetoun and directed the Southern Mallee Choir for their first ever Messiah performance. She then trained the Horsham Christmas Choir for several years. Jan’s teaching career involved working with various secondary school choirs and directing many school musicals.

On moving to Warragul in the early ’80s she founded the Warragul Madrigal Singers, which was later renamed the West Gippsland Chorale to acknowledge the wider variety of music in its repertoire. For the 26 years Jan has directed the Chorale she has always seen the big picture in preparing the choir for the future. From its earliest years when it began winning eisteddfods, she always strove for perfection, and the comments from the various judges attest to this. Her attention to detail in diction and quality of sound was noted, especially in foreign language singing. She is well known for her ability to encourage the choir to enter into the atmosphere of each piece of music.

When conducting, her vitality and passion for the music always brings it to life. On practice nights she constantly challenges the choir to deepen their insights into the music, while at the same time encouraging enjoyment and fun. As the Chorale reached higher levels of performance, Jan made contacts over the years with leading Melbourne conductors such as Jeffrey Crellin and Peter Bandy, and thus began a series of cooperative choral ventures with Melbourne choirs and their orchestras. This ongoing work continues to bring the Chorale to new understandings in its performance. For Jan, these experiences, together with her participation in conducting workshops over the years with conductors such as Faye Dumont, have raised her own artistic direction to greater maturity.

The Chorale under Jan’s direction is now part of the musical tradition of Gippsland and beyond. It was recognised by being chosen to take part in the ABC’s inaugural Choir of the Year competition alongside community choirs from all over Australia. Jan’s community work was recognised in 1999 when she was awarded an Australia Day Medallion.

At a personal level, Jan’s way of working has always been to bring out the best in those under her care. Chorale members invariably refer to her respect and empathy for each chorister when sickness or other adversity affected them or their families. The Chorale end-of-year parties at her home have become memorable musical events. It can truly be said that the hundreds people who have been associated with the choir over Jan’s years as leader have become, in effect, part of Jan’s ‘wider family’.

Her enthusiasm and energy for work in all aspects of the Chorale’s management is legendary. Even during the time of her husband’s illness, her work for the Chorale never wavered. On the other hand, Don MacLean’s strong and enthusiastic support for Jan’s work over the 26 years has been of inestimable value to the Chorale. Jan has always worked to encourage young people in their music. Very early in the Chorale’s history she inaugurated a student item in concerts to give opportunities for promising musicians. She encouraged and supported the formation of Leading Notes Youth Choir and has invited them to perform in Chorale concerts ever since. Within the Chorale itself she has sought out and encouraged young singers to take part and has given as many Chorale members as possible the opportunity to sing solo and small group parts.

As she steps down as musical director in June 2010, Jan intends to remain involved with the Chorale. She can know that her work for these 26 years has given joy to thousands of people, choristers and audiences alike. May she also know that these music lovers hold her in deep affection and love and wish to extend to her their profound gratitude and their best wishes for her future.

Australian Peter Bandy has earned himself a reputation as a conductor of considerable experience with many successful performances in genres such as choral, orchestral, opera and ballet music. Alongside his performing talents are years spent learning his craft as music director, music arranger and orchestra manager.

Peter has worked with a diversity of artists such as James Galway, Dame Joan Sutherland, Richard Bonynge, Rolf Harris and Peter Schikele (PDQ Bach). Peter Bandy studied at the University of Western Australia and in 1976 won a professional conducting audition with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 1979 he received a grant from the Western Australian Arts Council enabling him to study conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Vilem Tausky. He has held important positions in Australia conducting orchestral and choral music, opera and ballet, and has now directed most major professional symphony orchestras in Australia and New Zealand.

In 1976 Peter Bandy formed the 150-voice Perth Oratorio Choir which performed most of the major oratorios with professional symphony orchestras, including highly acclaimed engagements for the ABC of the Messiah, Alexander Nevsky, Gloria (Poulenc), and Stabat Mater (Rossini). He was music director of this choir for ten years and his association with them continues.

Since 1987, Peter Bandy has undertaken engagements as chorus master with the Australian Opera, and in 1989 he made his debut as a conductor with that company. Prior to this he was Music Director of the West Australian Gilbert and Sullivan Society for seven years. As associate and resident conductor of the Australian Ballet from 1987, he has conducted most ballets in the company’s repertoire. In 1992, he toured with the company to New Zealand, conducting the Auckland Philharmonia in performances of Romeo and Juliet. He has also conducted for the Royal New Zealand, West Australian and Queensland Ballet Companies. In 1994 to 1995, he again visited New Zealand, conducting concerts with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Christchurch Symphony plus seasons with the Royal New Zealand Ballet involving the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

From 1996 to 1998, Peter was music director of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society and also at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School. He was appointed music director and chief conductor of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra in 1993 and has directed his young players through successful performances of Mahler’s 1st and 2nd Symphonies, Carmina Burana, Verdi’s Requiem, Holst’s Planets Suite, Pictures At An Exhibition (Moussorgsky/Ravel) and The Rite Of Spring. His association with this orchestra continues.